Photo by Michael "House" Tain
the work site closely for energized conductors must be a
priority before any work is started in a storm situation.
Crews must also keep in mind that a line downed away
from them may reach their worksite through other conductors such as chain link fences, metal curbing, or even
"harmless" phone or cable lines.The ground under a crew's
feet can even conduct electricity for a distance given the
right soil conditions and voltage. In addition, homeowners
using incorrectly set-up generators can cause "back feed"
into their house drop, which, in turn, is "pumped up" in
volume by transformers, reenergizing lines the tree crew
may have "known" to be dead.
Examination ain't just a test
Examining and evaluating the work site for downed
lines is not the only examination that needs to take place
in storm situations.Any woody debris that is about to be
cut in a storm situation needs to be examined very closely to determine what kind of pressure and forces it may be
under; and where they originate from. Not only will this
examination help figure out how and where to cut, but
also where things are going to move once severed, and
where a safe place to be is while cutting.The two primary forces present will be compression and tension; and,
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A failure at the base or pedestal of the trunk caused by structural weakness combined with ice and
early snowfall.
Arbor Age / September 2013
17
